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Mineral Consultation Areas Supplementary Planning Document

Hertfordshire County Council has adopted a Supplementary Planning Document to the Minerals Local Plan. This Supplementary Planning Document will identify Mineral Consultation Areas and forms part of the Minerals and Waste Development Framework for the County.

Much of Hertfordshire is underlain by sand and gravel resources which could, potentially, help to meet the future needs for construction materials. Allowing new building and other development in these areas could ‘sterilise’ the mineral deposits, either by making them inaccessible for extraction, or by introducing new activities (such as houses) into the area which would not be compatible with mineral extraction nearby.

There is a commitment within the newly adopted Minerals Local Plan to produce Minerals Consultation Areas, within a Supplementary Planning Document. The purpose of the document is a consultation trigger to ensure that District/Borough councils consult the County Council before determining application for development in mineral consultation areas in order to safeguard mineral resources.

The adopted mineral consultation areas will be identified on both the Proposals Map for the Minerals and Waste Development Framework and on district/borough Proposals Maps in their Local Development Frameworks. Mineral consultation areas would therefore also enable developers to consider the implications of mineral resources at an early stage of any proposals.

Copies of the Adopted Supplementary Planning Document can be viewed at the address above, at all District and Borough offices and at all libraries in the County (please contact the relevant office for opening times).